Parker pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with first- and second-degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

Judge Andrew Ceresia sent Parker, who appeared at times to be smiling and smirking, back to jail without bail pending a formal written bail application.

Gooding, 32, was killed on March 9. Police have not said what led to the stabbing inside Gooding's home at 339 Third St., but First Assistant District Attorney Carmelo Laquidara said Parker and Gooding were acquaintances.

"City police investigators worked hard to get to the facts on this complicated case and to make this arrest," Laquidara said without elaborating.

Laquidara said witnesses helped police with the case.

Prosecutors did not comment on why a grand jury returned a manslaughter charge rather than a second-degree murder charge in the case.